Investing in Our Principals, Investing in Your Children: Professional Development with Dr. Julia Sadusky
At CISVA, we believe that supporting our principals means directly supporting your children. Every professional development opportunity we provide to school leaders is an investment in the Catholic education experience, ensuring that our schools are compassionate, safe, and attentive to the real challenges students face today.
This September, CISVA is thrilled to welcome Dr. Julia Sadusky, a licensed psychologist, author, and trusted consultant whose expertise lies at the intersection of sexuality, gender identity, theology, and mental health. Dr. Sadusky’s work, particularly through her practice Lux Counseling and Consulting, has brought hope and guidance to countless faith-based communities navigating questions of identity, belonging, and emotional well-being.
Her message is clear: when educators are equipped with sensitivity, understanding, and evidence-based strategies, they can create environments where every student feels seen, supported, and safe. As Dr. Sadusky has expressed, “Students flourish when adults meet them with both conviction and compassion. Trauma doesn’t have to define their school experience if we learn to walk with them wisely.”
This session for principals will focus on trauma-informed care, helping leaders recognize the lasting effects of trauma, respond to students with empathy, and foster school cultures where dignity and respect are central. Parents can be confident that these workshops translate into classrooms that are not only academically rigorous but also emotionally and spiritually nurturing.
By equipping principals with tools for trauma awareness and compassionate leadership, CISVA is ensuring that schools remain:
Safe – environments where children know their voices matter.
Inclusive – communities that honor each student’s unique background and life story.
Faith-rooted – guided by Catholic values of mercy, respect, and human dignity.
Dr. Sadusky brings a wealth of experience as both clinician and author, including her co-authored book Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today’s Youth (IVP Academic). Her ability to bridge psychology, pastoral wisdom, and lived reality makes her especially valuable for Catholic school communities who want to respond faithfully and thoughtfully to students’ needs.
Dr. Julia Sadusky speaking at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre. (Nicholas Elbers photo)
What This Means for Parents
When principals are supported in their growth, the benefits filter directly into your child’s classroom experience. These workshops empower school leaders to:
Better understand the emotional and spiritual needs of students.
Equip teachers with tools for empathy and resilience-building.
Reinforce school cultures rooted in Catholic identity, while honoring the dignity of all students.
At its heart, this initiative is about giving your children the best possible Catholic education—not just academically, but as whole persons created in the image of God.
The professional development session with Dr. Julia Sadusky will be held on:
September 23–24, 2025
JPII Pastoral Centre, 4885 St John Paul II Way, Vancouver, BC
We look forward to strengthening our schools by investing in our leaders, because when principals thrive, students thrive.
Would you like me to also draft a short parent-facing newsletter blurb (something under 150 words) that could be emailed or posted on a school webpage, summarizing the value of this session in very parent-friendly language?